Polar plunge raises funds for Special Olympics
People across B.C. are plunging into cold water for a good cause. The annual events raise money for Special Olympics B.C. As Corey Bullock tells us, this year's funds will support athletes who are headed to Italy to compete in the World Winter Games, which start on March 8.
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CBC
26-03-2025
- CBC
Calgary athletes bring home 10 medals from Special Olympics World Winter Games
They brought home three gold, one silver and six bronze medals from Turin, Italy Six athletes from the Calgary area are settling back home after the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy earlier this month — where they won a combined ten medals. That includes three gold, one silver and six bronze medals. The six special Olympians were among 90 athletes representing Team Canada in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, speed skating and snowshoeing at the Games. Cross country skier Sarah McCarthy, 41, was one of three local athletes who came home with a gold medal. She won gold in the 4x1K relay race with teammates Cory Beardy, John O'Neill and Marley Gayler. She also won bronze in the 2.5K free technique, as well as fourth place in the 1K free technique. "It felt really great to be on the podium," said McCarthy, who's been cross-country skiing for 23 years. "It was fun, Italy was nice, and the place where we were skiing was really amazing." 19-year-old alpine skier Maddie Cyr came home from her first trip abroad donning three ribbons — fourth place in slalom, sixth place in giant slalom and sixth place in super-G. "I was crying happy tears," said Cyr, who noted she dedicated her time on the hill to her mom who is currently in the hospital. "I know my mom is proud of me, even though she was back home and I was in Italy. She was cheering me on in the hospital." Jodi Flanagan with the Special Olympics Team Canada mission said the athletes worked extremely hard for their achievements — from daily training sessions to working with mental performance coaches. She said the medals are great, but their wins go beyond that. "So much of it was, how are they feeling? How are they succeeding in travelling to another country? How are they succeeding being away from their families and from their usual routines for this length of time?" The other athletes from the Calgary area who competed in the World Winter Games are Susan Miko, Elouise Stewart, Jennifer Riddell and Brett Garth. Altogether, Special Olympics Team Canada brought home 116 medals — 39 gold, 35 silver and 42 bronze.
CBC
21-03-2025
- CBC
Shamattawa First Nation teen wins gold at Special Olympics World Winter Games
A gold medal at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games for 15-year-old Cory Beardy had friends, family and supporters cheering last week. Beardy, a cross-country skier from Shamattawa First Nation who lives in Thompson, Man., won gold for Canada in the 4x1K relay - free technique, with teammates John O'Neil, Sarah McCarthy and Marley Gayler. He took part in multiple cross country skiing events during the games, including a fifth place finish in the 500-metre classic race and a fourth place finish in the 1K classic race. Beardy's coach Marlene Enberg was thrilled with his results. "Just a smidgen off of the medals in those two races!" Enberg said. Over 1,500 athletes converged in Turin, Italy to compete in eight sports March 8-15. In 2023, Beardy competed at the Special Olympics Manitoba Winter Games in Winnipeg and was one of two Manitoba cross-country skiers selected to advance to the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Calgary. Beardy has been training four to five times a week for the World Winter Games since qualifying for Team Canada after the Calgary competition. In a post on Facebook, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said Beardy's resilience, determination and passion was an inspiration to all young athletes across the 63 First Nations it represents. R.D. Parker Collegiate vice-principal Jeff Paradis, who also works with Beardy as a coach, praised his work ethic. "He's like the Energizer bunny," Paradis said. "Whenever I was out there with him, we would take breaks with some of the other kids and just relax and talk. Cory would be out there doing one, two, three, four more laps around the track. So, yeah, he's definitely a great athlete." Beardy plans to train for the 2029 Special Olympics World Winter Games that will be held in Chur-Graubünden, Switzerland. But for now, Beardy is a 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games gold medallist. "I said, 'hey, how about next week, like Monday, think you can bring them in,'" Paradis told Beardy ahead of the school's spirit week festivities during the final week of March. "And he said, yeah, that'd be cool."
CBC
02-03-2025
- CBC
Polar plunge raises funds for Special Olympics
People across B.C. are plunging into cold water for a good cause. The annual events raise money for Special Olympics B.C. As Corey Bullock tells us, this year's funds will support athletes who are headed to Italy to compete in the World Winter Games, which start on March 8.
